LANDGRAF: Session on the horizon

By State Rep. Brooks Landgraf

Work has officially begun for the upcoming legislative session as the bill filing period opened for Members of the Texas House and Texas Senate earlier in November.

No matter what, I will always be committed to representing the hard working people of the Permian Basin. That means fighting to defend and expand individual liberty in Texas for all Texans. That is why I am especially proud of what we accomplished in 2021, when the right to life and the right to defend one’s own life were prioritized more than ever before.

When the Roe v Wade decision came down, Texas was ready, having passed legislation in 2021 specifically for such an eventuality. Thanks to HB 1280, abortion became illegal in Texas without any additional action required by the state following the landmark Supreme Court decision.

Texas also became a “constitutional carry” state in 2021 — meaning that any law-abiding Texan can carry a handgun without permission, aka a license, from the government.

I’m certainly proud of these accomplishments, but by no means do I think we should rest on our laurels. The 2023 legislative session will be about defending the ground we’ve worked so hard to gain, and moving the ball further in areas where we’ve stalled in the past.

The Texas legislature meets at the Texas Capitol for a 140-day regular session beginning the second Tuesday in January every odd-numbered year to vote on proposed legislation and pass a balanced state budget. On January 10, 2023 the Texas legislature will convene for the 88th Texas Legislative Session and I’ve wasted no time in preparation having already filed several bills at the time of writing.

As always, I’m committed to fighting to protect Permian Basin jobs, which are increasingly under threat from the federal government. That is why I have filed House Bill 33 to stall the implementation of any new federal regulations on oil or natural gas production in Texas. HB 33, nicknamed the “Texas Energy Independence Act,” will ensure no Texas state taxpayer dollars or resources are used to implement any new federal regulations on oil and gas production in Texas.

House Bill 33 prohibits Texas state agencies and officials from contracting with or providing assistance to any federal agency or official regarding the enforcement of a federal statute, order, rule, or regulation regulating oil and gas operations if the regulation is not already existing law. The Texas Energy Independence Act will help preserve the Texas economy, and, hopefully, the United States of America as a global force for good.

The Texas Energy Independence Act is the first of many pieces of legislation I plan to file in 2023 to defend Texas energy. I’ll also be working hard to ensure that the Permian Basin gets its fair share of the budget surplus we’ve helped to create, estimated to be the largest in Texas history at $27 billion.

Additionally, I’m fighting for the rights of every Texas taxpayer and homeowner. While property taxes are assessed locally, rather than statewide, I remain committed to finding every available opportunity to reduce the property tax burden on Texas families and businesses. We can use part of the budget surplus to buy down property taxes, but the impact of that will barely be felt even if we dedicated all $27 billion to the cause. I’m interested in all available ways to curb the growth of property taxes in Texas.

As your state representative, in addition to being upset by ever-increasing property tax bills, I am deeply convicted to pursue policies that allow for the bright light of transparency to shine through on our state and local governments at every available opportunity. That is why I filed HB 159 and HB 187.

HB 159 reinstates the requirement on local taxing entities that any proposed changes to property tax rates be published in local newspapers. This will help ensure rural Texans have access to information regarding proposed changes in their property tax rates regardless of their access to the internet. HB 187 requires ballot measures for the approval to issue bonds or other public debt to be submitted to voters and taxpayers only during a November election, removing the option to vote on debt during lower turnout elections. I believe that both of these bills are steps in the right direction to prevent continued out-of-control local government debt and property tax increases.

We face many challenges as a state and nation in the upcoming year, but I’m confident Texas is well-positioned to be a leader and show the world what free people can do. I’m honored to serve as your voice in the Texas House. Thankfully, that voice is echoing louder than ever in the Texas Capitol.

God bless Texas!